R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Vibes
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
The Moving Set
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her peak fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
While the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.